Feature: Ten Memories from Sophia Wong Boccio Celebrates Season Ten of Asian Pop-Up Cinema

Printer-friendly versionE-mail page to friendPDF version

Japanese Movie Star Yuki Furukawa

Japanese Actor Yuki Furukawa on APUC’s Season Six Opening Night
Photo credit: APUC

March 18th, 2018: One of the more memorable Opening Nights was for Season Six, which featured popular Japanese movie star Yuki Furukawa for his film “Colors of Wind.” With millions of fans all around the world, Yuki drew in many out-of-town guests for the first time to the film festival.

HollywoodChicago.com coverage: CLICK HERE

Midwest Premiere of ‘Best Foreign Language’ Selection ‘Village Rockstars’

‘Village Rockstars,’ Directed by Rima Das
Photo credit: APUC

April 18th, 2018: “Village Rockstars,” a film that screened in Season Six, was another Asian Pop-Up Cinema first. Later that year, it became the official selection of India for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar consideration … although it didn’t make the final list of nominees. Director Rima Das appeared on behalf of the film that night.

Lee Jae-in, First ADG BRIGHT STAR AWARD Honoree

ADG BRIGHT STAR AWARD Recipient Lee Jae-in
Photo credit: APUC

September 12th, 2018: The South Korean film “Adulthood,” which opened Season Seven of Asian Pop-Up Cinema, had another distinction. We presented our first ADG BRIGHT STAR AWARD to the film’s young co-star, Lee Jae-in. The actor was accompanied by director Kim In-Seon, and we celebrated with another sold-out crowd.

HollywoodChicago.com coverage: CLICK HERE

APUC on Tour

Director Akiyo Fujimura of ‘Ten Years Japan’ with Sophia Wong Boccio
Photo credit: Patrick McDonald for HollywoodChicago.com

March, 2019: Right after the Chicago premiere of “Ten Years Japan” at Asian Pop-Up Cinema Season Eight, we took the film “on the road” to Toronto, Canada, to screen it there. One of the short film segments in the film was “The Air We Can’t See” by filmmaker Akiyo Fujimura, who represented the film during the tour. APUC was now international!

HollywoodChicago.com coverage: CLICK HERE

ADG BRIGHT STAR AWARD For Christian Bables

Awardee Christian Bables of ‘Signal Rock’ with Sophia Wong Boccio
Photo credit: APUC

October 3rd, 2019: Another ADG BRIGHT STAR AWARD was given in the recent Season Nine to Filipino actor Christian Bables for “Signal Rock,” and the film was part of a the Filipino American History Month celebration. May the next five years provide more memorable moments.

HollywoodChicago.com coverage: CLICK HERE

BONUS: ‘One Cut of the Dead’

Sophia Wong Boccio and Takayuko Hamatsu
Photo credit: APUC

November 14, 2018: The Season Seven Closing Night featured the outrageous Japanese film ‘One Cut of the Dead,” director Shinichiro Ueda’s now cult classic. Actor Takayuki Hamatsu came to Chicago to represent the film, and made sure that I received a personally autographed copy of the iconic poster. In all the Seasons, that was the most rewarding moment for me.

By PATRICK McDONALD Editor and Film Writer HollywoodChicago.com pat@hollywoodchicago.com